Patient photography enters the “scenes race” on “communication” with shots that violate privacy

“Emirates Today” monitored videos in which individuals documented personal moments for their patients from the patients, and published them on social media platforms, without hiding the patient’s identity or taking into account his health condition, and in one of the clips a young man who depicted his father with Alzheimer’s disease appeared, asking the followers to pray for him, while the father was looking at the camera, speaking in unconnected words, showing the loss of focus and awareness.

In another video, a young man published a clip of a friend with a rare genetic disease, reviewing the stages of their friendship, and the development of his friend’s health.

A person also posted a video in which he appeared with his sister, who are anxious, while practicing simple tricks with the aim of entertaining her, amid a wave of satirical comments.

Doctors and laws warned of the seriousness of the phenomenon, stressing that these practices are an explicit violation of humanization and human dignity, and leave deep psychological, social and health effects, may not be erased, and hinder the integration of people of determination or those who suffer from psychological disorders in society.

They told «Emirates Today» that this phenomenon lacks the minimum sense of responsibility, as the suffering of patients is exploited to increase the observations, and it is a behavior that amounts to emotional exploitation and psychological abuse, as the patient loses a feeling of safety and support, and makes him vulnerable to insult, embarrassment or exploitation, especially if he is unable to express his rejection, or does not know what is happening around him It leads to the withdrawal of social satisfaction, and undermines their confidence in the closest people to them.

They emphasized that the offer of patients in this way exposes them to an indirect psychological stigma, and is established in their minds and in the minds of society that they are incapable or ironic, which exacerbates the feeling of stigma and marginalization.

Doctors indicated that they monitored cases affected psychologically due to the photography of the patients or their families in moments of weakness, and published these clips without permission, as some of them deteriorated after learning about the spread of their pictures, and they felt insulting and let down.

They also referred to cases of children and adolescents who published clips of their relatives out of interaction or sympathy, but they later faced severe criticism and negative comments, which caused them to feel guilty, shame, anxiety, and differences within the family.

They emphasized that the phenomenon of exploitation of the elderly, especially those with Al -Zheimer, and Al -Aqsi, and the people of eligibility, in the clips that are broadcast through communication platforms, is a crime that is valued and punishable by law, whatever intent and purpose of that, by imprisonment and fine of 500 thousand dirhams, a penalty for violating the privacy of the elderly.

Weak moments

In detail, a family medicine specialist, Dr. Rehab Youssef Al -Saadi, warned of the danger of some individuals to photograph and publish videos of their sick families, especially from the elderly or the owners of determination, without their consent, stressing that these practices violate dignity, and leave severe psychological, social and health effects.

She said: «From a medical and psychological point of view, these actions create a gap of tension within the family, as the patient, especially the elderly or those who suffer from neurological diseases, feels the loss of safety and support, when he is exposed to moments of weakness in front of others, which negatively affects his psychological and health condition, weakens confidence within the family, generates feelings of embarrassment and anger.

She added that spreading content from the patient, without awareness or controls, exposes him to ridicule or compassion, and leads to social isolation, and these practices may hinder the integration of people of determination or those who suffer from psychological disorders in society, and deprive them of natural opportunities in education, work or social relations.

On reducing this phenomenon, she stressed: “As a society, we should reconsider the culture of emotional content at the expense of patients. We also need a clear legalization that prohibits photographing patients and publishing their pictures without approval, and health institutions must guide the patients of patients to the limits of privacy.”

She pointed to the importance of strengthening the culture of privacy in the digital age, and stated that she faced cases of psychologically deteriorating as a result of this type of violation: “We saw patients whose psychological state has deteriorated, after they learned that their images or clips of their weaknesses spread, especially Alzheimer’s patients or those who suffer mental disorders, so when they have moments of consciousness, and see themselves in an embarrassing situation, symptoms may exacerbate them, And make them feel lacking even the closest people to them. ”

Journey

A consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Riyad Khudair, stated that there are several psychological and emotional factors, which may control this behavior, as some seek through publication to request support, raise awareness or document the journey of the disease, while others resort to this method to attract attention, or obtain appreciation, especially in light of the feelings of fatigue and isolation that the care provider may suffer.

He continued, “The publication of pictures or clips of people who are unable to express their consent, especially in moments of weakness, is a penetration of dignity, even if the intention is to raise awareness, and these practices must be done very carefully, and with special means that take into account the feelings and rights of others.”

He warned that children who suffer from any neurological or mental illnesses may later discover the spread of their own moments, such as illness or psychological breakdown, which may lead to a feeling of shame, betrayal or loss of confidence in their families.

He said: “In an unforgettable digital world, today’s publications may turn into a psychological and social burden in the future, and affect personal identity, relationships and opportunities.”

He indicated that from the reality of clinical practice, cases in which children and adolescents were affected psychologically after publishing clips of their sick relatives, where some suffered feelings of guilt, anxiety or shame, especially after receiving negative comments or differences within the family, explaining that “this often occurs as a result of the absence of awareness, and in light of a digital culture that encourages the participation of everything, without awareness of psychological or moral consequences», stressing the importance of the importance Early education about respect for privacy.

Isolation and depression

And the consultant psychiatry, Dr. Amal Abu Al -Ala, warned that depicting patients, in most cases, feels embarrassment or insult, and he may not be mainly able to express the extent of his sense of psychological pain resulting from this, which negatively affects his respect for himself, and increases the feelings of isolation or depression.

She added that the absence of explicit and clear approval is a very dangerous psychological factor, explaining that in many cases, the patient is not aware that he is being photographed, especially children and the elderly or people with Alzheimer’s, and their lack of an opportunity to accept or reject increases the feelings of confusion and loss of control, and leads to a deterioration of self -confidence.

She stressed that whoever provides this act lacks a minimum of humanity and a sense of responsibility, adding: “Instead of providing support and protection for the weakest groups, some people try to exploit their suffering by increasing the observations, which is a behavior that amounts to emotional exploitation and psychological abuse.”

She emphasized that this behavior has long -term consequences, as “the patient may feel that he uses a means of entertainment or promotion, nothing more, which establishes in its depths feelings of shame, inferiority and social withdrawal, and that people with psychological or psychiatric patients, when they are presented in this way, become a victim of indirect psychological stigma.”

Independence and privacy

In turn, the legal advisor, Dr. Youssef Al -Sharif, stressed that the phenomenon of exploitation of the elderly, especially those with Al -Zheimer, and Al -Aqsi and the two missing people, in the clips that are broadcast through social media platforms and means, is a crime that is in question and is punishable Or conditions of daily life for the elderly, for the purpose of fame, spread and profit.

Al -Sharif said that the laws of the state have sponsored the protection of the elderly from every behavior that affects their freedom and their own social life, as well as their health condition, and all their life matters, and made them as extensive and punishable crimes in many legal texts.

He pointed out that due to the multiplicity of the provisions of the influence and penalties for these crimes, the principle of the most severe punishment is implemented, which is what the courts apply to protect the elderly, whether healthy or sick and are not able to care for themselves.

He stated that Federal Law No. (9) of 2019 regarding the rights of senior citizens guaranteed the right of the elderly to independence and privacy, and required respect for the privacy of their lives, their perpetrator communication with others, and a punishment for the crimes of violence and abuse that occurred to senior citizens.

Likewise, Article (431) of the Crime and Penal Code, which placed the punishment for the same crime by imprisonment and a fine for everyone who assaulted the sanctity of private or family life for individuals.

Mental disorders

For his part, the lawyer Ali Musabeh said that in the era of the digital platforms and the instantial “trends”, everything has become filmed, and every event is qualified to turn into content, even if it was at the expense of the dignity of a person who grooves illness, or at the expense of an elderly father who lost awareness and memory.

He stressed that the elderly, in particular, who suffer from chronic diseases or mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s, enjoy the right guaranteed in human dignity and privacy, which are rights that do not fall to age or the loss of eligibility, and Article (2) of Federal Law No. (9) of 2019 regarding the rights of senior citizens to respect their dignity, protect them from harm in all its forms, and stressed that one of the children Or among their families by photographing his father, mother, or one of his relatives with Al -Zheimer – or any chronic diseases and they are in a state of unconsciousness or severe weakness – then spreading these clips on communication platforms, is a form of psychological abuse and digital exploitation, which the law criminalizes clearly.

The depiction of a person without his consent, especially if he is unable to perceive and discriminate, is a violation of the sanctity of private life in accordance with the text of Article (44) of the decree of a federal law No. (34) for the year 2021 regarding the fight against rumors and electronic crimes, which also states that it is punished with imprisonment for a period of no less than six months, and a fine of not less than 150 thousand dirhams, and not more than 500 thousand dirhams With one of these two penalties, everyone who takes or publishes pictures or clips of people without their consent, in special places or in circumstances where their privacy violates.

He added: «If the lack of contentment resulting from the loss of the patient’s legal eligibility, such as Alzheimer’s, is added, then the crime becomes more severe, and it is possible that more severe penalties are applied, if it is proven that there is the intention of exploitation or moral abuse.

He said: «It is sad that family care will turn from a noble human act into a means of display and digital gains,” noting that depicting the elderly in the moments of their weakness, especially without awareness of them, not only a legal violation, but it is an ethical dimension in the presence of a disease that requires mercy, not lenses.

He stressed that the competent authorities must deal firmly with any content that violates the privacy of the elderly, and exploits their illness.

Muhammad al -Dhahouri: Human dignity is a priority

Member of the Federal National Council, Mohamed Hassan Al -Zahouri, said that patients have the full right to privacy and protection from any digital exploitation, whatever the intentions.

He stressed that the circulation of such clips, even if it comes out of the request for supplication or awareness, may carry a great psychological harm to the patient, especially if he is not able to express his rejection or understand what is published about him, indicating that protecting human dignity must be a priority before any digital content.

He pointed out that some of these cases exceed the limits of sympathy, and fall within the scope of harm to the patient’s psychological and social safety.

He called for a study of organizational or legislative frameworks that promote the protection of patients from infringing their privacy through digital platforms, by educating the community about the patient’s rights, and setting clear controls for publication, in a manner that ensures respect for humanity, and establishes a culture of moral use of health content.

Mona Tahnoun: Organizing the publication of the content related to the disease

The member of the Federal National Council, Mona Tahnoun, said that the phenomenon of photographing patients – especially among the senior citizens, people of determination, or those who suffer from mental disorders, and published these clips on communication platforms without explicit approval of them – is a clear violation of their privacy.

She added that such practices, albeit in good faith, carry dangerous psychological, social and legal dimensions, especially when the patient is not aware of what is published about him, or is unable to express his rejection or approval.

She stressed the importance of intensifying societal awareness campaigns on this behavior, and calling on the competent authorities to develop deterrent legal frameworks, ensuring respect for human dignity, and preserving his right to privacy, regardless of his health or psychological state.

She continued: “I support adopting legislation or law concerned with regulating the spread of content related to patients, in a way that achieves a balance between freedom of expression on the one hand, and the right of the individual to privacy and respect on the other hand.”

It also called for the activation of societal and educational control and awareness tools, to ensure that communication is used responsible and moral, and to avoid any practices that may harm the patients and their families, whatever the intentions.

She pointed out that she will work to study this phenomenon in an expanded way, and discuss the possibility of progressing with a parliamentary question on this topic, in a way that ensures the promotion of patient protection from any violation of their privacy or exploitation of their health status through digital platforms.